I've tried my best to distance my thought-process from an Ex Jehovah's Witness to the Athiest I am now. It was a pretty rough road. I went from being kicked out of that organization to then researching pagan beliefs, trying had to distance myself, and since that was the main one the congregation 'denounced', I felt I had a good basis to figure out what I believed.

But then superstition took hold. OCD-like superstition. Some of my friends with OCD even said that they refer to how their brain reacts as being of a superstitious manner. Well, paganism seems to be deep-rooted in that.

Now that I threw away the pagan books, and haven't found proof of a god or gods, I'm happy to say the only thing left in my mind of the last 26 years of my life when religion is concerned, are the superstitions.

I don't know what level mine would be categorized as, but here it is:

When I go riding on a Harley, I carry something that gives me psychological comfort. The type of 'all will be safe if I carry this'.

This needs to stop.

The best way I can explain it, is that I'm keeping myself from enjoying the full experience of the ride, due to fears that things may screw up in a horrible accident, and that I will be dead, if I don't carry that which gives me psychological comfort. I want to break free from this though-process.

I do recognize that superstitions where set in my brain before I researched on paganism, it was just under a smoke-and-mirrors guise at the time.

I am going to go riding today. Today will be the first time I go without this psychological comfort object.

Besides seeing how I do without it, I was wanting to know if anyone else has had this as one of their 'last straws', and how did they deal with it.

I really don't want to end up like this guy for the rest of my riding life.

Well, if you got into an accident and died, I bet that object will be laying around the crash site for someone else to pick up and enjoy your fantastic luck!!

Did that sound stupid?

Superstition, religion, cocaine, uh... coffee ... they are drugs.

Why would you ride on drugs man, when we all know it's the ride itself that is the best drug there is?

Now head out and feel the ride.
And Welcome to the forum.

I think in the end, I just feel like I'm a secular person who has a skeptical eye toward any extraordinary claim, carefully examining any extraordinary evidence before jumping to conclusions. ~ Eric ~ My friend ... who figured it out.

this object of yours may be silly, but in some cases you are stuck with it. this object brings a level of safety and comfort with it mentally. even if that security is false, removing this object can make you think about it too much, distract you from a task and make you more prone to mistakes.
recognizing a mistake can occur following a similar chain of events, you may decide to carry it anyway no matter how stupid it seems.
or maybe you can toss it aside and not worry about it anymore

if you throw it away, you need to do it mentally as well as physically

(12-05-2012 11:32 AM)Eo Thorne Wrote: I don't know what level mine would be categorized as, but here it is:

When I go riding on a Harley, I carry something that gives me psychological comfort. The type of 'all will be safe if I carry this'.

This needs to stop.

The best way I can explain it, is that I'm keeping myself from enjoying the full experience of the ride, due to fears that things may screw up in a horrible accident, and that I will be dead, if I don't carry that which gives me psychological comfort. I want to break free from this though-process.

I'm familiar with that superstition. Kept me from wearing a helmet or otherwise properly protecting myself.

(12-05-2012 11:32 AM)Eo Thorne Wrote: I am going to go riding today. Today will be the first time I go without this psychological comfort object.

Besides seeing how I do without it, I was wanting to know if anyone else has had this as one of their 'last straws', ...

First time I trashed a Sportster when some fool pulled out in front of me 'cause even though we made eye contact I apparently still didn't register and had to lay the bike down to save my sorry ass. Second time I trashed a Low Rider when some fool pulled out in front of me 'cause even though we made eye contact I apparently still didn't register and had to lay the bike down to save my sorry ass. I got lifelong scars on both my ankles to remind me that eye contact don't mean diddly. ... At least I was smart enough to be wearing boots or I might not be able to walk.

(12-05-2012 11:32 AM)Eo Thorne Wrote: ... and how did they deal with it.

I agree with dredmal. I ride a bike as well. My advice is to keep the object with you--superstition or not. Confidence is required when you ride, as you well know, so if it gives you confidence, keep it. What is the object?

"Legend has it that Evil Road Spirits have been latching themselves on to motorcycles for as long as there have been bikes on the road. These Evil Road Spirits are responsible for mechanical problems and bad luck along a journey.

Legend goes on to say that by attaching a small bell onto your bike, the Evil Road Spirits will become trapped inside the bell where the constant ringing drives them insane, making them lose their grip until they fall to the ground. (Ever wonder where potholes come from?)

Legend also has it that the mystery of the Guardian Bell carries twice as much power when it is purchased by a friend or loved one and given as a gift.

Show someone how much you care. Offer them defense against the Evil Road Spirits! Give a Guardian Bell and share the Legend of Good Luck it offers to a motorcycle and its rider"

Not that unusual...nothing wrong with something that gives you confidence and comfort.

Oh, geez...I am agreeing with Egor!

See here they are, the bruises, some were self-inflicted and some showed up along the way. - JF

I is an identity function that is mostly self contained, but it does seep beyond the self. Like how it's your bike. I mean, brainwashing goes both ways; you may be reverberating from the paganism to extreme rationalism. There is no right so much as right for you. For myself, I gots to have a picture of my Gwynnies (Gwyneth Paltrow - cause I adore her like stupid) in my environment or it ain't my environment.

'Course I solved that problem by tattooing her image on my arm, 'cause I'm more like stupid than just stupid.